Page 23 of Love In The Spotlight

Not a lot of drinking, lots of exercise, and his food choices were better than hers.

Though she didn’t get to eat often either so if she wanted to shove a bunch of calories in at once, that was her prerogative.

“Let me ask you this,” she said. “When you left for college, what was your goal? Your plans? What did you want to accomplish?”

“I wanted to win the Heisman,” he said.

She cringed. She couldn’t remember what that was or if he did. “And what happened?” she asked.

He laughed. “I got nominated but didn’t win.”

“What was your next goal?” she asked.

“Be drafted in the first round,” he said. “I wasn’t stupid enough to actually think I’d be drafted first, but that would have been sweet.”

“You were drafted fourth,” she said, grinning. That much she remembered reading.

“That’s right,” he said. “And I was the first quarterback drafted.”

“What was next on your list?” she said. “I’m sure you had a list of goals. Based on what I know of you and wanting this business, you had to have a five-year plan or more.”

“I did,” he said. “I wanted to win a Super Bowl like everyone else does but knew that wasn’t going to be easy. I think realistically I wanted to be the person that turned a team around. That proved I had what it took after my first four years with a losing team. But I knew being signed by a losing team might happen too.”

“You couldn’t get there staying but you worked hard enough that you had someplace to land when the time came,” she said. “You didn’t give up because you had something to prove. Correct?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Well, Nelson has something to prove. I’m not saying he’s a screw-up, because he’s not. But he’s young. He’s cocky. He has his big brother backing him and sometimes needs to get the chip knocked off his shoulder. We all know it. But at the heart of it, he wants to be just like West. He idolizes West.”

“I see where you’re going. Nelson is going to work harder than someone else to prove he has what it takes.”

“Yes,” she said. “He’s been wanting to be near West for a while. He wants to learn from West. But West is busy. It’s not easy.”

“Then why now?” he asked.

“Because I asked,” she said.

“Are you doing it for Nelson or for me?” he asked.

“I’m doing it for everyone,” she said.

This was the largest stake she had in a business, but she wouldn’t tell Jamie that. It hadn’t been finalized and what West did with his shares was his decision, but West would never give up majority.

“Do you believe Nelson has what it takes?” he asked.

“I don’t know. But I do know that with me and West watching him, it won’t fail. That much I can promise you.”

“Thanks,” he said. “This means a lot to me.”

“Can I ask you something personal?” she asked.

“It hasn’t stopped you yet,” he said.

“True. You said this is your mother’s formula. Why not put her name on this or have some shares in her name?”

Jamie snorted. “I tried. I’ve tried giving them things for years. They don’t want it. They say money is evil.”

“Ouch,” she said. “I’ll have you know if money is evil then I’m standing in line to be the head devil.”

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